Coin register



Nov. 30, 1937. M. MACDONALD COIN REGISTER Filed Sept. lO, 1955 I. 1 I NVENTOR. N11/@706K /Vaca/o//d/d ATTORNE Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

VVThe present invention relates to a device for registering and recording the deposit of metallic coins or tokens, and is particularly adapted for use in the collection of fares in railway and bus l operation.

-The -general object and nature of the invention is to insure the proper classification and registration of the coins collected, and at the same time to eliminate the erroneous acceptance and registration of improper or incorrect sizes and values of coins.

Briefly outlined, the device embodying my invention consists of a plurality of coin receptacles, each of whichis adapted to receive only a particular size of coin, `together with means for ejecting vincorrect sizes of coins which might erroneously be deposited into the wrong receptaclel*r The device also includes means for signalling,` recording? and counting the deposit of only the correct size of coins collected, as well as means for signalling theerroneous deposit of an incorrect size of coin. yAdditional objects and advantages of the invention shall become ap-V parent as vthefollowing description proceeds.l

To the -accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully describedV and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

Fig. l1 is a view, partially in elevation and par# tially diagrammatic, illustrating the device em bodying my invention, together with the wiring diagram of the signalling system attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one of the coin receiving units from the assembly shown in Fig. 1 and taken upon a plane normal vto that ofv Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view,` similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing the operating parts ina different position'of movement; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the lcoin ejecting tongue and locking meanspFig. 5 is a top plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the coin receivingY passage and taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Now referring more particularly to the vdrawing, the device includes a base plate I which may be suitably supported by means of vertical stand-l ar'ds -2 and horizontal supporting bars 3. The

(Cl. 12M-8)' base plate I carries a plurality of upwardly eX- tending coin receiving tubes 4, 4I, 42 and 43. The inner diameter of each one of these tubes is substantially equal tothe diameter of various sizes of coins with a slight clearance of course, 5'

in order that the coins will be able to pass through the tubes. Tube 4, for example, may have a diameter equal to that of pennies, tube 4I to that of nickels, tube 42 to that of dimes, and tube`43 to that of quarters. Also carried by the 10 base plate I and extending transversely therefrom and parallel to the tube 4, there is another cylindrical tube 5 of lesser diameter. Each one of the units, as shown in Fig. 1 and as viewed therein from left to right, has the respective 15 secondary tubes 5I, 52 and 53 of lesser diameter. At this point it should be noted that each one of the coin receiving units, as more fully illustrated in Figs. 2,'3 and 5, is of identical construction, but the coin receiving Vparts thereof are of dif-v ferent sizes. Hence corresponding reference numerals having the same first digits have been used in order tofrefer to similar parts of each of the units. The last digits of the reference numerals to corresponding parts'for the three units 25 to the'right of the first one on the left bear the respective numerals I, 2 and 3. A

The upper ends of the tubes 4 and 5 terminate in and support a horizontally inclined plate 6. The plate 6 iscomposed of an insulating material such as liber or bakelite and carries in its upper face two coin receiving channels or passages 'l and 8. As shown in Fig. 6, the passage 'I has a larger width, a, than the width, b, of the passage 8 located just below it. Adjacent the upperend of the coin receiving passage I and on either side thereof are located the metallic contacts 9 and 9. Referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the contacts 9 and 9 do not extend to the side walls of the passage 8 but are 40 insulated therefrom. Connecting wires I0 and I0 lead from the contacts 9 and 9', respectively. The wire I0 connects with a suitable electric power source, such as a battery II, and the wire I9 connects with an electric signal light I4. An- 45 other connecting wire I3 leads from the signal light I4 to the wire I2 and thence to the bat-V tery II. In this manner an electric circuit is formed from the contacts 9 and 9 through the battery Hand to the signa nght I4. As will be 5 seen from Fig, 1, similar contacts are provided in the slots 1I, 'I2 and 13 of each of the coin receiving units, and similar electrical connections and signal lights I4I, |42 and |43 are provided 5 ferent color, for example, red, yellow, green and blue, respectively. Such colors are denoted in Fig. 1 by the legends R, Y, G and B.

A bus wire I5 leads from the battery II to the connecting wires IIlI, |62 and |63 (corresponding to the wire I) to each of the respective units.

The lower end of the tube extends below the base plate I and is closed by a wall I1 of insulating material. An opening I8 adjacent the bottom of the tube 5 permits the withdrawal of a coin therefrom. The insulated bottom wall I1 carries a` pair of spaced contacts I9 and 2U, which are adapted to be bridged by a coin passing through and coming to rest on the bottom of tube 5. As will be seen from Fig. 1, a terminal wire 2| leads from one of the contacts in the tube bottom I1`to the battery 22. Another wire 23 leads from the other side of the battery 22 to the signal bell 24. The bus wire 25 leads from the other terminal of the signal bell 24 to the respective terminal wires 26, 261|, 2.62 and 263, connected to the other contact on each one of the bottoms of the tubes 5, 5I, 52- and 53. A second bus wire 21 connects the respective terminal wires 2|, 2| I, 2I2 and 2I3 to the battery 22. In this manner the contacts in the bottom wall of each of the tubes 5, 5|, 52 and 53 are electrically connected to the battery 22 and to the signal bell 24. A plate or tongue 36 is slidably mounted on the under side of the base I and is supported in such position by means of the fixed plate 3| which is suitably fastened to the base I. The right-hand end of the tongue 36, as shown in Fig. 4, is concavely curved as at 32 into an arc whose radius of curvature is equal to that of the inner diameter of the tube 4. Adjacent the curved portion 32 are the two angularly inclined shoulders 33 and 34. The tongue 36 also has an elongated slot 35 whose width is equal to the inner diameter of the tube 5. The slot 35 leaves the interior of the tube 5 open at all times, regardless of the position of the tongue 30, in order that a coin entering such tube will be permitted to travel through it to the bottom. A pair of arms 36 and 31 are pivotally mounted as at 38 and 39, respectively, to the bottom supporting plate 3|. The outer ends of the arms extend transversely towards each other and present the rectangular shoulders 4I and 42', as well as the angularly inclined or beveled faces 43' and 44. The space between the arcuate portion 32 of the tongue 30 and the beveled faces 43 and 44 is of suicient dimensions to accommodate the coin C which enters the tube 4 and drops to the bottom thereof. The tension spring 46 is connected to each of the arms 36 and 31 and tends to hold them in position against the sides of the tongue 36. A tension spring 45 is connected between the base I and the tongue 3|] and tends to hold the latter in its left-hand position (with respect to Fig, 2).

The left-hand end of the tongue 36 extends upwardly through a slot 46 in the base I and is pivotally connected as at 41 to a link arm 48, Which in turn is pivotally connected as at 49 to a second link arm 5U. The link arm 53 is pivotally connected at 5| to the base I. A small arm 52', rigidly carried by the link arm 56, is pivotally connected as at 53 to another link 54 which in turn is pivotally connected as at 55 to the lever 56 and large link arm 51. The lever 56 is fulcrumed as at 58 to the xed bracket 59 mounted upon the base I. The lever 56 is laterally offset, as at 60, in order to pass by the tubes 4 and 5 and has a manipulating button 65 on its outer end.

A short connecting arm 66 connects the large link arm 51 to the counter 61. A cover plate 68 extends over the top of the coin receiving passage plate 6 and has an upwardly flared portion 69 at its upper end for the purpose of guiding coins into the passages 1 and 8.

The operation of the device as above described is as follows:-

Assuming that a coin of the correct size is inserted in any one of the proper coin receiving channels or passages 1, 1I, 12, or 13, it will first bridge the space between the contacts 9 and 9 and thereby complete the electric circuit between the battery II and any one of the signal lights I4, |4I,l |42 or |43, as the case may be, in which instance the operator, as well as any other observers, are apprized of the fact that the coin of a proper size and value has been inserted in the register. Likewise the size and value of the coin is also signalled, according to the color of the particular signal light whose circuit is closed by the insertion of the coin. The coin next proceeds down the'passage 1 to the upper end of the tube 4, drops down the tube 4 to its bottom and to the position between the end of the tongue 3l) and the ends of the arms 36. and 31, as shown in Fig. 4. The operator then moves the lever 56 by pressing down on the button 65; This movement of the lever 56 movesthe several link arms 48, 50, 54, 51 and 66 to the position shown in Fig. 4. Upon such movement the tongue 3U is forced in a right-hand direction, and due to the camming action of the coin C against the beveled faces 43 and 44 of the arms 36 and 31, the coin is ejected from the bottom of the tube 4 into the hand of the operator.

In the event that a coin does not reach the tube 4 and thence to its bottom, or to the position as shown in Fig. 4, the points of the inclined portions 33 and 34 on the tongue 30 will bear against the shoulders 4I and 42 and thereby prevent further movement of the lever 56 and correspondingly of the link arms 51 and 66, which actuate the counter 61. In this manner the button 65 and lever 56 are locked against movement sufficient to register on the counter 61. Thus, it will be seen that it is necessary that a coin of the proper size reach the bottom of the tube 4 before the ejecting mechanism or the counting device can be actuated.

In the event that an improper size of coin, that is, a coin having a lesser diameter than the Width of the channel 1 is inserted in any one of the coin receiving units, it will drop down into the lower coin receiving passage 8 and into the tube 5. An abutment member is provided adjacent y the lower wall of the tube 5 and in the channel 8, in order to prevent such an undersized coin from possibly bouncing or traveling past the upper end of the tube` 5 and thence into the tube 4. When the undersized coin enters the tube 5, it drops down to the bottom thereof and bridges the contacts I9 and 26, whereupon the circuit between the battery 22 and signal bell 24 is closed, thus actuating and ringing the bell. In this manner the operator is informed of the fact that an improper size of coin has been inserted in any one of the respective coin receiving units. The operator then removes the improperV size coin through the opening I8, thus again opening the circuit to the signal bell 24. The operator may then inspect the coin, which has been improperly inserted, andreturn it to the payer or refuse its acceptance if. it is found to be spurious.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a coin register, the combination of a dual coin receiving passage of two different widths, the larger for the passage of correct size coins and the smaller for the passage of incorrect size coins, indicating means connected to the larger width passage for signalling the insertion of correct size coins in said dual passage, and a second indicating means located below and adapted to receive coins from the smaller width passage for signalling the insertion of incorrect size coins in said dual passage.

2. In a coin register, the combination of a dual coin receiving passage of two different Widths, the larger for the passage of correct size coins, and the smaller for the passage of incorrect size coins, indicating means connected to the larger width passage for signalling the insertion of correct size coins in said passage, a second indicating means located below and adapted to receive coins from the smaller width passage for signalling Vthe insertion of incorrct size coins in said dual passage, and counting means located `below said larger width passage and adapted to be rendered operative by coins therefrom for registering the number of only the correct size coins inserted in said dual passage.

MURDOCK MACDONALD. 

